New Harlem theater to open in summer
Roland Laird of My Image Studios is opening a new theatre, 250 seat venue for plays, music and entertainment in Harlem. The venue, on 116th Street and Lenox Ave, has been in the planning stage for 20 years and will open this summer, according to Laird. (Jan 25, 2012) Credit: Bruce Gilbert
A $21 million Harlem multiplex theater for live concerts, poetry slams, comedy shows and independent film screenings -- all rooted in African-American and Latino culture -- is preparing to open this summer.
Hoping to inspire a 21st century Harlem Renaissance revival with a social media twist, My Image Studios on 116th Street and Lenox Avenue is being touted as the next major Harlem entertainment enterprise since the opening of the Magic Johnson Harlem 9 movie theater.
"My Image Studios will be Harlem's living room of entertainment, where people can enjoy Harlem's culture and people," said Roland Laird, 50, the development's chief executive.
"This is going to create a lifestyle in the community and be a place where people can come and express themselves artistically," said Laird, a Stuyvesant High grad from Hollis, Queens.
"Concert performances will range from Grammy artists to emerging artists who are well known in the community," he said. No concerts, however, have been booked yet.
The entertainment venue has 20,000 square feet and will have three theaters -- including a small one for intimate theatrical performances. The three can be combined into a 250-seat theater.
Laird, a former software engineer with Credit Suisse, took a 2008 buyout before joining partners Carlton Brown and Walter Edwards of Full Spectrum of NY, developers of the Kalahari, the 250-unit residential condominium building that houses My Image Studios.
The one-floor, street-level space will have a lounge, restaurant and bar, and a special-events banquet hall that can seat up 320 people. |done/fdd It also will feature an outdoor terrace restaurant seating 75.
The studio will include a multimedia facility that can stream performances live on the Web, said Martin Pratt, 40, a radio host at WHCR/90.3 FM, who envisions hosting "American Idol" there.
Its digital-media facility also will offer training in social media to schoolchildren and local nonprofit groups.
Freelance filmmaker Margaux Joffe, 27, who moved into the neighborhood from Boston nine months ago, said she is excited about the project.
"I saw their marquee and went online to find out more about them. I'm a filmmaker and I think this will be a great asset for the community. There are a lot of artists in upper Manhattan who need a space for their work," she said.
"It sounds great," said Debra Jones, 57, who has lived in Harlem for 25 years. "The people here don't get out of the neighborhood much and this will give them a place for entertainment and culture."
However, resident Sue Jones, 51, said that although she likes the idea of a theater featuring independent films she wonders whether sound from the live concerts will be a problem.
"I don't know. We'll have to wait and see," said Jones.
My Image Studios is expected to create 65 jobs and will be a tourist destination, Laird said.
"This will bring jobs and money into the neighborhood," he said. "We will be good neighbors."
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
Snow totals may be less across the South Shore A winter storm is expected to pummel LI as artic air settles in across the region. NewsdayTV meteorologist Geoff Bansen has the forecast.
